SAP has launched out-of-band emergency NetWeaver updates to repair a suspected distant code execution (RCE) zero-day flaw actively exploited to hijack servers.
The vulnerability, tracked beneath CVE-2025-31324 and rated vital (CVSS v3 rating: 10.0), is an unauthenticated file add vulnerability in SAP NetWeaver Visible Composer, particularly the Metadata Uploader part.
It permits attackers to add malicious executable recordsdata without having to log in, probably resulting in distant code execution and full system compromise.
Although the vendor’s bulletin is not public, ReliaQuest reported earlier this week about an actively exploited vulnerability on SAP NetWeaver Visible Composer, particularly the ‘/developmentserver/metadatauploader’ endpoint, which aligns with CVE-2025-31324.
ReliaQuest reported that a number of prospects had been compromised through unauthorized file uploads on SAP NetWeaver, with the attackers importing JSP webshells to publicly accessible directories.
These uploads enabled distant code execution through easy GET requests to the JSP recordsdata, permitting command execution from the browser, file administration actions (add/obtain), and extra.
Within the post-exploitation part, the attackers deployed the ‘Brute Ratel’ pink workforce device, the ‘Heaven’s Gate’ safety bypassing approach, and injected MSBuild-compiled code into dllhost.exe for stealth.
ReliaQuest famous within the report that exploitation didn’t require authentication and that the compromised methods had been absolutely patched, indicating that they had been focused by a zero-day exploit.
Safety agency watchTowr additionally confirmed to BleepingComputer they’re seeing lively exploitation linked to CVE-2025-31324.
“Unauthenticated attackers can abuse built-in performance to add arbitrary recordsdata to an SAP NetWeaver occasion, which implies full Distant Code Execution and complete system compromise,” acknowledged watchTowr CEO Benjamin Harris.
“watchTowr is seeing lively exploitation by menace actors, who’re utilizing this vulnerability to drop net shell backdoors onto uncovered methods and achieve additional entry.”
“This lively in-the-wild exploitation and widespread affect makes it extremely probably that we’ll quickly see prolific exploitation by a number of events.”
BleepingComputer contacted SAP with questions concerning the lively exploitation however has not acquired a response right now.
Shield in opposition to assaults now
The vulnerability impacts the Visible Composer Framework 7.50 and the really helpful motion is to use the most recent patch.
This emergency safety replace was made accessible after SAP’s common ‘April 2025’ replace, so for those who utilized that replace earlier this month (launched on April 8, 2025), you are still susceptible to CVE-2025-31324.
Furthermore, the emergency replace contains fixes for 2 extra vital vulnerabilities, particularly CVE-2025-27429 (code injection in SAP S/4HANA) and CVE-2025-31330 (code injection in SAP Panorama Transformation).
These unable to use the updates that handle CVE-2025-31324 are really helpful to carry out the next mitigations:
- Limit entry to the /developmentserver/metadatauploader endpoint.
- If Visible Composer will not be in use, contemplate turning it off totally.
- Ahead logs to SIEM and scan for unauthorized recordsdata within the servlet path.
ReliaQuest recommends performing a deep setting scan to find and delete suspect recordsdata earlier than making use of the mitigations.
Replace 4/25 – A SAP spokesperson disputed through an announcement to BleepingComputer that CVE-2025-31324 was efficiently exploited in precise assaults.
“SAP was made conscious of a vulnerability in SAP NETWEAVER Visible Composer, which can have allowed unauthenticated and unauthorized code execution in sure Java Servlet,” acknowledged the SAP spokesperson.
“SAP will not be conscious that SAP buyer information or methods had been impacted by these vulnerabilities. A workaround was launched on April 8, 2025, and a patch is presently accessible. Clients are really helpful to use the patch instantly.”
In the meantime, cybersecurity agency Onapsis, revealed a report saying it additionally noticed lively exploitation.
